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All posts tagged Protests

Iranian students gathered in Rome Thursday evening, several with nooses around their necks, to denounce the rising number of executions in Iran and show support for antigovernment protests taking place there.

Reuters

Iranian students rallied in Rome.

“Stopping arrests and executions is now a priority – the arrest of journalists and activists is particularly alarming,” says Zahra, 34, a former lawyer in Iran and now a Rome-based human rights activist. Like many of the protesters at the rally, Zahra declined to give her last name for fear of reprisals from Iranian authorities who have monitored such events in the past. Most of the dozens of Iranians present at the rally wore scarves to mask their faces out of precaution.

Chants of “Free prisoners” and “stop the executions” rang out in Persian and Italian as the protesters held their hands high in the air with “V” for victory signs. Others brandished banners and green flags, chanting “Free Iran!” and calling for democracy in an Iranian–rather than Islamic–republic. Many in the crowd wore wristbands, scarves and, in some cases, tights in various shades of green, the color that has come to symbolize antigovernment oppositions. Read More »

As hundreds of thousands of government supporters rallied in Iran to mark the 31st anniversary of the nation’s revolution, protests outside of the country took on a decidely antigovernment tone. Throughout Asia and Europe, Iranians and opposition sympathizers took part in demonstrations to show solidarity with protesters demanding an Iranian regime change. Below are images from the rallies.

A Swedish policeman shot pepper spray at protesters in Stockholm.

AP

Iranian opposition supporters living in Greece held a banner in front of the Greek Parliament in Athens. Read More »

European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton expressed support for Iranian protesters Thursday, lashing out at Tehran and accusing the Iranian regime of failing its people.

“The choices this regime is making vis-à-vis its people and the international community are the wrong ones,” Ms. Ashton said in a statement. “No amount of inflated rhetoric can hide that. The regime is letting its own people down; and they deserve better.”

She expressed concern over reports that opposition leaders have been subjected to violence and arrest, saying that intimidation tactics have become a pattern of the Iranian government. Read More »

After drawing fire for his approach toward Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the past, the U.K. ambassador to Tehran set out to make his position clear Wednesday. As Iranian state television showed thousands gathered in Tehran’s Azadi square to commemorate the 31st anniversary of the Iranian revolution, Simon Gass took to Twitter to let it be known that he wouldn’t be there — and why.

“Didn’t attend President Ahmadinejad’s diplomatic reception,” Mr. Gass tweeted. “Inappropriate, given range of problems between us and Iran.” Read More »

UPDATED: European governments on Monday strongly condemned the Iranian government for its violent crack-down on protesters, urging Tehran to exercise restraint and respect the rights of its citizens.

“The international community is watching and will not look away,” German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement, denouncing the “brutal action” by Iranian security forces against demonstrators. In a separate statement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Iran to respect the “Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” an international treaty signed by Iran that requires signatories to respect basic human rights. Read More »